Venetian blind operating device



Dec. 2, 1941. J

VENETIAN BLIND OPERATING DEVICE Filed April 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 2, 1941.

J. H. BAN

VENETIAN BLIND OPERATING DEVICE Filed April 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W-J i 4Z2 7 [fig/972207" Q72, 42' 1 a X 47 Patented Dec. 2,194

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN ntn n fii s larnse DEVICE Joseph H. Ban, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 2, 1940, Serial No. 327,409

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to Venetian blinds. It is particularly directed towards an improved device for operating blinds of this general character.

The usual Venetian blind is provided with two operating devices, one to raise and lower the blind, and the other to tilt the shutters. In its simplest form, the conventional means for raising and lowering the blind comprises two or more lifting ropes attached to the bottom shutter and extending upwardly through holes in the shutters to the top of the blind. The lifting ropes pass over pulleys to the side of the window and hang downwardly to within reach of the operator. Various locking means have been provided to retain the rope when the blinds have been adjusted to the desired height. Separate hanging ropes are ordinarily provided to rotate the top shutter so that the blind may beopened or closed.

The inherent objections to this type of operating device are that the lifting ropes are often displaced with respect to each other with the resultthat the blind does not hang evenly; that the rope lockingmeans sometimes fails of its purpose with the result that the blind unexpected- 1v drops; and that the rope locking device tends to excessively wear the ropes with the result that the ropes frequently must be replaced. Also, there is considerably unsightly rope hanging on either side of the blind, the length of which varies with the position of the blind. It is obvious that in the case of large blinds, considerable effort is required to actuate the operating ropes.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a Venetian blind operating mechanism of simple and economical construction, but; which is highly efflcient in operation. It effectively eliminates the objections inherent in the above described conventional operating means. A further object is to combine into a single mechanism the means for raising and lowering the blinds and the opening and closing means.

The present invention comprises a small housing containing two rotatable drums designed to be driven by means of a worm and gear combination. The worm carrying shaft is rotated by an endless chain which hangs downwardly to within easy reach of the operator. Metal tapes are provided to raise and lower the blind, said tapes being directed into the housing by properly positioned guides. Each drum receives one of the tapes, and by rotation of the drums, the blind is raised or lowered. A sprocket chain, having its ends eccentrically associated with the drum carrying shaft so that the chain oscillates back and forth as the shaft is rotated, cooperates with a sprocket rigidly mounted on the head slat of the blind, thereby successively opening and closing the blind as the operator raises or lowers the blind.

As will be understood, the blind may be raised or lowered to the desired height by actuating the endless chain, and finally by a slight further movement of the chain, the blind may be adjusted to the desired open or closed position. The worm and gear means of raising and lowering the blind will, of course, hold the blind at any point without the necessity of an additional lock.

The features and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully as the description proceeds, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is shown. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings and description are illustrative only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention except insofar as it is limited by'the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an inside elevation view of a window showing a Venetian blind provided with my improved operating means;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 4:

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a, sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. l, a window frame in which my Venetian blind and operating device are mounted is generally designated by the numeral ill. Beneath the top member of the frame is mounted an inverted wooden channel II which serves as the support for the blind and operating device. At one end of the channel H, a portion thereof is cut away to permit the mounting of a small housing l2 which contains the operating mechanism. The housing I2 is cast in two. symmetrical portions i3 which fit together and enclose the mechanism. One of the castings is provided with integral pins I311 which pass through holes in the other casting and are riveted down to hold .the parts together. As shown in Fig. 4, the housing is fixed to the webs of the channel H by means of ordinary wood screws M.

The Venetian blind herein contemplated is of a conventional type comprising a relatively heavy head slat l6, spaced thin intermediate slats I1 and a heavier bottom slat I 8, the weight of which tends to maintain the blind in a vertical plane despite drafts of air through the window. Spaced from the ends of the slats are oppositely disposed vertical straps H which extend from the head slat i 6 to the bottom slat I 8. The straps i 9 are anchored to the head and bottom slats and intermediate thereof support the spaced intermediate slats ll. -As will be understood,

partial rotation of the head slat l6 opens, or closes the blinds.

To support the blind, a bracket 20 is provided near the end of the channel H opposite the housing I2. The vertical leg of the bracket 20 is provided with a bayonet slot 2| to receive a shaft 22 mounted in the end of the head-slat IS. The other end of the head slat I6 is provided with a rigidly mounted axial shaft 25 having a sprocket wheel 26 intermediate its ends. The round outer end of the shaft 25 is rotatably mounted in a socket 21 in the housing l2. Rotation of the sprocket wheel26, therefore, rotates the head slat l6, thereby opening or closing the blind.

Thin flexible metallic tapes 30 are provided to raise and lower the blind. Holes 3| arprovided in the intermediate slats l1 and bottom slat I8 through which the tapes 30 pass. 'The holes 3| are preferably located in the slats between the pairs of supporting straps l9 so they will not be visible when the blind is in closed position. Also, the series of holes at one end of the slats have their centers offset to one side of the center line of the slats, while the series at the other end are offset to the opposite side of said center line. The reason for this offsetting is to permit the raising and lowering tapes 3!) to occupy different vertical planes that they may extend side by side through the channel II as hereinafter explained.

To permit passage of the tapes 30 through the head slat l6, said slat is divided into three sections, the middle and two end sections. The respective sections are joined together with a slight gap between their ends by means of elongated metal plates 32 which bridge the gap and are screwed to the opposite sides of the slat. The straps iii are wrapped around the plates 32 which fit snugly in grooves in the sides of the slat. This construction is necessary in the thicker head slat to provide clearance for the tapes 3!] when the slat is rotated towards the vertical.

The lower ends of the tapes 30 which pass through the holes 3| in the bottom slat l8 are provided with holes through which are passed staples 33. The staples 33, bridging the openings through the slat, are countersunk and driven into the underside of the slat, as shown in Fig. 1.

The tapes 30 pass upwardly through the holes in the successive slats l1, the gaps separating the adjacent ends of the head slat sections and then pass into the channel ll through openings 35 cut therein.

Disposed within the channel I I above the openings 35 are guide members comprising pins 36 on which are mounted rotatable sleeves 31. The tapes 30 pass over these guides and extend towards the mechanism housing l2. Because the tapes are not in the same vertical plane, they extend side by side through the channel ll.

Within the housing I2 are mounted two tape receiving drums 40 having a gear 4| co-axially mounted between them. The unit comprising shaft 42, drums l and gear ll conveniently may be a single casting as. the gear and drums are necessarily n'gidly mounted on the shaft. Each drum has a tape receiving slot 43 therein and is provided with a screw means 44 to secure the tape within the slot. The shaft 42 is rotatably journalled in the sides [3 of the housing l2. Journalled in the housing above the gear is a shaft 45. Rigidiy mounted on the shaft 45, and engaging gear ll, is a worm 4B. A sprocket wheel 41 having side washers 48 is mounted rigidly on the end of the shaft 45 outside the housing l2. An endless chain 50 engages the sprocket wheel 41 and extends downwardly to a position where an operator may readily actuate the device.

The lifting tapes 30 enter the housing l2 by passing over guide roller 52 and under guide roller 53. The tape from one end of the blind engages one of the drums 40, while the other tape engages the second drum. The entrances to the tape receiving 'slots 43 in the drums 40 are rounded to avoid bending the tape at sharp angles. As will be understood, rotation of the worm 4G by means of the chain causes rotation of the gear and drums, thereby winding or unwinding the tape 30 on the drums 40, and, consequently, raising and lowering the blind.

To provide means for opening and closing the blind operable in conjunction with the means for raising and lowering the blind, I have provided a length of sprocket chain 55 which cooperates with the sprocket 26 on the shaft 25 extending from the head slat ii. The chain 55 passes over pulleys 55 mounted on shaft 51 and has its ends rotatably mounted on pins 58 eccentrically projecting from the ends of the shaft 42 (Fig. 6). The pins 58 are located on opposite sides of the shaft center so, as the shaft rotates, the length of chain 55 oscillates back and forth, thereby successively opening and closing the blind.

As has been described, the blind is raised or lowered by actuating the endless chain 50. In moving the blind upwardly or downwardly, the blind is consequently successively opened and closed. When the operator has the blind at the desired height, he may, by slight additional movement of the chain, obtain the desired open or closed adjustment of the blind.

From the above description it is believed that the features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art. Having thus described m invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A Venetian blind operating device comprising blind lifting tapes, rotatable tape receiving drums, means operatively associated with said drums whereby rotation of said drums successively opens and closes the blind, and means for rotating said drums.

2. A Venetian blind operating device compris ing blind lifting tapes, a housing, a rotatable shaft through said housing, tape receiving drums and a gear rigidly mounted on said shaft, a worm cooperating with said gear, means operatively associated with said shaft whereby rotation of said shaft successively opens and closes the blind, and means for rotating said worm.

3. In combination with a Venetian blind having a head slat, rotation of which tilts the shutters, a shaft having a sprocket thereon extending from one and of said head slat, a mechanism enclosing housing into which the end of said shaft is journalled, a rotatable shaft extending transversely through said housing, blind lifting tape receiving drums rigidly mounted on said second named shaft within said housing, a sprocket chain passing around said sprocket and having its ends eccentrically mounted to the ends of said second named shaft. and means for rotating said second named shaft.

4. A Venetian blind operating device comprising blind lifting tapes, a housing, a rotatable shaft through said housing, tape receiving drums rigidly mountedorr said shaft, a sprocket chain having its ends eccentrically mounted to the ends of said shaft, a sprocket cooperating with said chain rigidly mounted on the head slat of the Venetian blind, and means for rotatingi said shaft.

5. In a blind having a plurality of spaced slats and flexible members cooperating therewith to raise and lower said slats and also to tilt said slats about their respective axes, an operating device comprising rotatable drums upon which are wound theblind raising flexible members, means operatively associated with said drums whereby rotation of said drums successively tilts said slats first in one direction and then the other, and means for rotating said drums.

6. In a blind having a plurality of spaced slats and flexible members cooperating therewith to raise and lower said slats and also to tilt said slats about their respective axes, an operating device comprising a housing, a rotatable shaft through said housing, drums, upon which are wound the blind raising flexible members, rigidly mounted on said shaft within said housing,

means operatively associated with said shaft whereby rotation of said shaft successively tilts said slats first in one direction and then the other, and means for rotating said shaft.

7. In a blind having a plurality of spaced slats and flexible members cooperating therewith to raise and lower said slats and also to tilt said slats about their respective axes, an operating de-'- vice comprising a housing, a rotatable shaft through said housing, drums, upon which are wound the blind raising flexible members, rigidly mounted on said shaft within said housing, a

sprocket chain having its ends eccentrically mounted on the ends of said shaft, a sprocket cooperating with said chain rigidly mounted on a slat of the blind, and means for rotating said shaft.

, 8. In a blind having a plurality of spaced. slats and flexible members cooperating therewith to raise and lower said slats and also to tilt said slats about their respective axes, an operating device comprising a housing, a rotatabl shaft through said housing. drums, upon which are wound the blind raising flexible members, rigidly mounted on said shaft within said housing, means operatively associated with said shaft whereby rotation of said shaft successively tilts said slats first in one direction and then the other, and-a worm and gear means for rotating "said shaft.

9;In a. Venetian blind having a head slat,

intermediate slats and avbottom slat, an operating device including spaced blind lifting tapes which pass through perforations in said slats and are oppositely offset from the axis of said slats, guide means for directing said tapes side by side and laterally above said head slat, a housing into which said tapes are directed, spacedrotatable tape receiving drums within said housing, and

worm and gear means for rotating said drums.

10. In a. Venetian blind, staggered lifting tapes and means for directing said tapes in spaced relationship into an operating device, said operating device including a housing, spaced rotatable tape receiving drums within said housing, tape receiving means on said drums and means for rotating said drums.

11. In a Venetian blind, staggered lifting tapes and means for directing said tapes in spaced relationship into an operating device, said operating .receiving drums within said, housing, tape securing slots and set screws on said drums, said slots having rounded edges to avoid sharply bending the tape, and means for rotating said drums.

13. In a Venetian blind, staggered lifting tapes and means for directing said tapes in spaced relationship into an operating device, said operating device including a housing, rotatable tape receiving drums and a g ar rigidly mounted therebetween within said housing, tape receiving means on said drums, a worm cooperatingv with said gear whereby rotation of said worm rotates said gear and drums, and means for rotating said worm.

14.. In combination with a Venetian blind, an inverted'channel extending across the top of the Window opening, spaced and staggered lifting tapes extending into the channel through openings in the web thereof, guide means for directing said tapes side by side to one end of said channel, and-a tape actuating device disposed at said end of said channel.

15. In combination with a Venetian blind, an

inverted channel extending across the top of the ings in the web thereof, guide means for directing said tapes side by side to one end of said channel, a housing mounted at said end into which said tapes are directed, spaced rotatable drums within said housing, and worm and gear means for rotating said drums.

16. In combination with a Venetian'blind, an inverted channel extending across the top of the window opening, spaced and staggered lifting tapes extending into the channel through openings in the web thereof, guide means for directing said tapes side by side to one end of said channel, a'housing mounted at said end into which said tapes are directed, spaced rotatable drums within said housing, tape receiving means on said drums, and worm and gear means for rotating said drums.

17. In combination with a Venetian blind, an inverted channel extending across the top of the window opening, spaced and staggered lifting tapes'extending into the channel through openings in the web thereof, guide means for directing said tapes side by side to one end of said channel. a housing mounted at said end into which said tapes are directed, rotatable drums within said housing, a gear rigidly mounted between said drums and worm means for rotating said gearand drums.

18. In combination with a Venetian blind, an inverted channel extending across the top of the window opening, spaced and staggered lifting tapes extending into-the channel through openings in the web thereof, guide means for directing said tapes side by side to one end of said channel, a housing mounted at said end into which said tapes are directed, spaced rotatable drums within said housing, guide rollers within said housing directing said tapes to said drums, and worm and 

